after three plus months, here i am

wow, has it really been since march that i last blogged? life really did get busy there for awile!

i may be back on my blog but i’m far from back to normal. a little more than two weeks ago i fell in the new orleans airport and broke my shoulder. needless to say, i’m typing one-handed and am not knitting. oh the tragedy of having all the time in the world to sit and knit but not the physical ability to make it happen! woe is me.

I am absolutely sick to death

of knitting mistakes that require that I rip out approximately 1 month’s work!  I was showing off the sweater I’m working on when I noticed a SERIOUS error near the beginning of the front piece.  I’m so mad right now that I don’t want to knit anything. Not even baby hats.I’ve been reading Yarn Harlot’s Free Range Knitter in which she addresses this same thing, seemingly written about me and my specific project (her mistake was at the beginning of a sweater – whoop, I have something in common with Yarn Harlot).  She says “happily reknitting is oxymoronic as “smart bomb,” “alone together,” or the classic “government organization.”"  I couldn’t agree more.  I love knitting but I am not in love with the prospect of reknitting the entire front piece.  I am not a happy knitter.

Baby Things

Sweater Set

Sweater

Blanket

Sweater Set #2

Dinosaur Bib

Kimono Sweater

The New Year’s Post

I’m not big on resolutions but prefer to pick a theme for the coming year. My theme is self improvement on all fronts.  I think I’ve bitten off more than I can chew.  I can’t get started on my new theme, probably because it’s too big, too undefined.  What do I hope to accomplish?

1. Weight loss

2. Fitness

3. More energy

4. A cleaner house

5. Complete the sweater that’s on knitting needles

6. Be the “good daughter”

7.  Take more showers

8. Develop and maintain a beauty regimine

9. Make time for myself so I’m not the sluggish person I see in the mirror.

10. Take vitamins

Sheesh, within each of the things I’ve listed is a million things to do.  I should’ve picked just one, but the whole me needs a makeover!  Alas, how to start.  Just to get started.  Okay, pick the easy thing and start there … I’m going to go take my vitamins.

Now to take down the tree

Christmas has come and gone, thankfully without any drama or mishaps. Unfortunately, this was a sparse holiday for the whole family which was somewhat depressing to me. I know it’s not about the gifts, but come on and be honest… it sort of is about the gifts.  I enjoy giving lots of presents, especially to the kids. I was sad that they didn’t have a huge pile of pressies this year.

The snow has also come and gone. We were pretty well hammered that day and evening, the news said we got about 8 inches. It lasted for days, the final days being a slushy mess. Glad that’s gone!

B’s gift this year is a trip to Santa Barbara, California to visit her BFF who attends college there. She has money and plane tickets to stay a week. It must be very exciting to be 17 and embarking on your first long trip away from home, without the parents. Silly BFF couldn’t get through security because she had a carryon stuffed with full bottles of beauty products. The first thought was to check the bag but that was quickly discarded when they discovered the fee would be ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS!!!! Can you believe that?!?!? So DH has all the bottles, we’ll mail them to BFF.

The very minute my last Christmas project was finished; I started a pair of socks for myself. They knitted up quickly and have been keeping my feet warm ever since they were done.

 

Monkey Socks

 

I made a few pairs of fingerless gloves for the holidays and couldn’t help but wish I had a pair too. So, what’s a girl to do? I made myself a pair!

Maine Morning Mitts

 

 

 

 

It’s time for me to focus my knitting on myself a bit. Someone pointed out that I make most everything for other people which might be why I sometimes lose my MoJo. I have a sweater pattern that I absolutely love, have all the yarn I need and even started it back in May when my father was so ill. When he dies near the end of the month, I put down the sweater and haven’t picked it up again. Part of the problem is that I don’t like the way the yoke cable meets at the back and I’m sure there’s an error in the pattern for the cables on the front. If there’s no error in the pattern, then I’m doing something wrong. Either way, I need the help of the ladies down at the LYS so I’ll have to plan to take some regular time to spend down there.

Between the sweater, preemie hats, socks (I love my socks!) and baby things for my pal W, I have quite a bit mapped out for 2009 knitting.

Here’s a mere glimpse of the sweater:

Cable Sweater

SNOW!

Things have been obviously slow on the blog front.  I assure you that’s because it’s been busy, busy, busy on the home front!  I just have to take time out to post about the snow we’re getting.  Yes, SNOW in Las Vegas and it’s sticking!  Is there a snowman in my future?

It’s Baaaaack!

When the Mojo hit the trail and I found myself bored with my knitting and lacking the energy to do just about anything, the first question should have been “are you taking your meds?”.  I can’t believe that the solution was to simply take ALL my meds (instead of forgetting the day-time dose).  Instant focus and interest in my projects and other details of life. Un believeable.

My oldest daughter is so determined to eventually be “drug-free” but I’m not one of those people who believe that mental health drugs are evil.  If they work, then why not take them?  Really, why is it even a question?  Feel like shit or feel good.  I’ll take the feel good option every time.

Anyway, now that my interest in knitting is back, I’m beyond happy to report that the lacey leafy scarf is DONE!  Whoo hoo, it’s done!  What you’re seeing now is me doing the Happy Dance!

:::::::::::::::Hopping around like a fool… a very happy fool:::::::::::::

It’s done, it’s done, it’s done!!!!!!  Yeah, Baby!

Now to get the last alligator done and I’ll be sitting pretty with regard to holiday knitting.  Just one more project to make and it’s an easy one that I’m looking forward to.

Missing Mojo

I’m bored.  Bored with everything really, but specifically bored with knitting and crocheting.  How can this happen when I’m so close to Christmas and so near the end of my to-do list?  I’ve been working on a pretty scarf for my oldest daughter that just isn’t fun to work on.  It’s one of those leafy, lacy patterns that requires full attention.  Most of my knitting is done in the evenings in front of the TV.  No TV or other distractions for this pattern!  It’s way too easy to get lost in the pattern, resulting in spending more time un-knitting than making any progress.  Then there’s the Baby Alligator scarves.  The first one was fun, the second was boring and the third is just a chore to get done.  That’s what I get for making three of the same thing.  Thank goodness they’re different colors.  I tried changing it up and switched to crochet.  I have these bookmarks on the to-do list so why not try something different and make progress at the same time?  No go.  The Mojo is gone there too.

 

I asked my friends on the ADHDKnitting group on Ravelry what they do when they get bored.  I hate to say it, but no one was able to give me the answer.  I can’t take time away from the knitting, I have a deadline!  I can’t spend time perusing through pattern books to get inspired, I have projects that need to be done now.  Where for art thou, Mojo and why aren’t thou coming back to me?

My Recent Finished Objects

Jaeden’s Baby Alligator Scarf

Bess’ Evangeline Fingerless Gloves

Mom’s Elizabeth Bag

Two Work in Progress:

Rebecca’s Column of Leaves Scarf

Skylar’s Baby Alligator Scarf

There Must Be Something Exciting in My Life!

Really, the fact that there isn’t anything exciting happening in my life right now is depressing.  Maybe a list of what’s going on will reveal something I’ve overlooked.  Cross your fingers!

 

1.      I’m living at Mom’s now as she recovers from the hip surgery.  I’m more than happy to be here and help her get well, but in all honesty, there’s a “she’s driving me nuts” factor that starts to settle in late at night when she insists that she’s not sleeping in the chair but is instead, thinking.  Yeah, right Mom.  Please go to bed!Sorority has some exciting things going on but I’m not able to participate because family comes first right now.  We’re recruiting new members and not one single member of my tiny chapter was able to attend the planning meeting and I’m worried I’ll have to figure out a way to attend the event.

2.Two days a week, I go home for the afternoon to watch the grand kiddies there.  Every time I’ve arrived home, the kitchen has been an absolute mess.  Youngest DD of course doesn’t see it that way.  In her own words, “It’s just a few dishes in the sink.”  Try both sinks are filled  nearly to the ceiling.  What about all the dishes, trash and crumbs all over the counters?  What about the crumbs on the floor that make walking barefoot such a joy?

3.     

4.My community (Parents.com) is doing very well, that excites me!  I’m honored to know that Meredith is making all their sites consistent with best practices taken from Parents.

The holiday knitting is coming along nicely.  I should be able to finish the gloves I’m working on by the end of the day or early tomorrow.  The scarf I’m making for oldest DD is a bear.  I just cannot memorize that darned pattern (even thought it says right on it, “easy to memorize, quick knit!”  They lied because it’s taking me forever to get that scarf done!

 

I guess there are times when the Drama Llama leaves you alone for awhile, and even though excitement isn’t part of your current events, at least you’re not caught in a whirlwind of drama.  Sleep, Drama Llama.  Sleep long and hard, you need your rest.